One and a half hours later, we touched down at Sydney airport. The weather was fine and we couldn't wait to go through customs and make our way towards the train terminal which is conveniently located at the airport.
There weren't many people at the train station which meant we shouldn't have too much difficulty managing our suitcases in the confined spaces of the train. I spoke too soon because with each stop, more and more passengers squeezed in, trying not to frown at the culprits (us) who took up a lot of room at the entrance of the train.
We arrived at the train terminal at Circular Quay. It was a hub of activity as people were coming and going in all directions. They were disembarking off ferries and boarding them, heading towards bus stations or walking to their destinations. They were booking train tickets or pausing for coffee. One young tourist sat quietly in the midst of all the hustle and bustle to plan his itinerary. He was a man with a plan.
Our eyes focused on our reason for being here. There she sat in all her radiant beauty, waiting to receive her excited passengers! The Radiance of the Seas is a cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. I hardly know where to start with telling you about a few of the many amazing features of this ship but as I'll be sharing many photos in following blogs, I'll make this introduction brief.
Activities and events on board include, mini golf, a sports court, table tennis, multiple pools and spas, a fully equipped gym, dance classes, live orchestras, cupcake and sushi making classes, disco parties and teen parties, solarium (one of my favourite places) a library and card room, an arcade casino, a program for babies and toddlers, art auctions, and indoor and outdoor movies.
And of course there are the many bars, cafes, and dining areas which include buffet and fine dining and specialty restaurants which cater for all tastes and preferences. But I will share these with you soon.
Circular Quay is situated on the edge of Sydney Harbour and is the location of many iconic attractions such as the Sydney Opera House the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Busy ferries come and go day and night and it is a merging point for train, bus and cruise ship passengers. The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and The Rocks are situated on the western side of Circular Quay. Everywhere you walk along this fascinating foreshore you will be treated to spectacular views.
We had the choice of boarding the ship and getting re-aquainted with the layout and her many features and enjoy an early lunch or have a look around the fascinating sights at Circular Quay first. We opted for the latter.
Sydney Harbour is never still. There are boats, ferries and ships of all sizes going about their business and the captains of all floating vehicles need to have their wits about them in order to keep a keen eye on the water traffic to avoid possible collisions.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, (affectionately known as "The Coathanger,") was opened in 1932 after taking six years to build. Interesting facts: It is made of steel. It contains 6 million rivets which were hand driven. When painting is required, the area covered by painters to complete the job is equivalent to 60 sports fields.
Walking the length of the Sydney Harbour Bridge requires a certain amount of fitness. After a long walk to the base of the pylon, 200 steps are required to reach the top. It cost sixpence to cross it when it was first opened. It is free to walk across and there is a bicycle track for bike riders in a special lane. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world's largest but not the longest. Total length = 1149 metres. Arch span = 503 metres. It consists of 8 vehicle lanes, two train lines, a footpath and a cycleway.
Without a doubt, The Sydney Opera House is one of Australia’s most famous landmarks and is certainly one of its most recognizable buildings. It was completed in 1973 and has achieved world-wide acclaim for its unique design and construction and also has the distinction of being called an architectural icon of the 20th Century.
It is situated on Bennelong Point and commands all the attention it gets every single day of the year. The Opera House is a predominant feature amongst many others in Sydney’s Harbour and is probably the most photographed building in Australia.
There are more appealing sights yet to show you in the Circular Quay area before we board The Radiance of the Seas but I will make sure to include them in my Part #2 blog of my 'Cruising with Radiance.' Stay tuned!
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THANK YOU FOR VEIWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
the Daily "Spotlight"!
Looks like @curie beat me to it.
Thank you very much for your generosity and interest @daveks I'm truly honoured.
Your enthusiasm and "radiance" for this trip clearly shows in your writing, @trudeehunter! 😊 Thanks for taking us from Brisbane to Sydney with your words and pictures. Will definitely look forward to your cruise experiences. I feel it's going to be exciting and a lovely time!
Cheers! 😀
Thanks a lot for your lovely comments and kind visit @michelleast Much appreciated.
And we are fortunate enough to view these magnificent photos. I really like the way you have summarise your post along with giving hint about your liking. It looks like a fun and you have enjoyed your travel :)
Many thanks for your kind support and comments @codingdefined It’s very encouraging. 🌸
Thank you kindly @pixresteemer
Hi trudeehunter,
Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.
Many thanks for your very welcome support and encouragement @curie I'm honoured to receive this acknowledgement.
The young tourist sure is a man of plans... Hahah
Being on a cruise ship sounds like fun. Circular Quay sure does have some really fascinating views. The Opera House does stand out, that was the first thing that caught my eyes when I saw the photo with the ships (the 11th photos), it definitely deserves the "architectural icon of the 20th century" title.
You guys have some fun activities to indulge in while there, I hope you enjoy your stay.
Hello @audreybits Very nice to meet you. Thanks very much for taking the time to read this blog and leave such lovely comments. This was a cruise I did a couple of years ago and am sharing the photos and experience now. I'm glad you enjoyed reading it.
It must have been a really fun trip. Revisiting and sharing such fun memories must have felt really awesome (and a bit nostalgic).
It was a pleasure reading through it.
It certainly was a fun trip @audreybits and I’m enjoying going over the photos again. Thanks again. 🌺
That's awesome!
What a wonderful travel so far! Love all the pictures..I think cruising is a perfect way to have a travel..There is always something to do on the ship for everyone..
Thank you @icybc for your kind visit and input. I agree so much with your comments about cruising. It is a wonderful way to relax and see other places and definitely no opportunity to get bored.
A wonderful story about the beginning of Your journey. It was with great interest I will follow him. I liked the bright and colorful pictures . So much sun, blue sky ... I'm sure You have a very exciting trip ahead of you. :)
Many thanks for your kind visit and comments @madlenfox. I'm happy you enjoyed reading this blog about the first part of the cruise.I did in 2016. There is so much more to come and I will enjoy sharing the rest of my trip in the weeks ahead. .
I don't want to miss a sequel and so now I'm your follower :). @trudeehunter, I wish you a good day
Thank you so much @madlenfox Have a wonderful day too.
Very beautiful photographs 😊
All aer looksgorgeous! ❤ atmosphere is awesome! Amazing colours and magnificent contrast. Great shots 📷
Thank you @ykdesign for dropping by and lending your support. It is greatly appreciated.
Holy cow on the luggage, Trudee! I have only two small suitcases and that is everything I own being dragged around SE Asia. I constantly wonder how I can downsize further :)
You have a wonderful post for the start of this trip and I hope I see the rest of them. The ship sounds like so much fun and you are in a part of the world I have never been. I'm looking forward to lots of yummy food :)
I need to take a leaf out of your book @fitinfun........but to justify my tendency to pack too much, the weather between Brisbane in Queensland and the weather in Tasmania at the bottom of Australia can be rather extreme, so we went from high humidity to freezing cold.........and don't forget, there were 4 of us travelling so those bags were shared between all of us. (Lol)
Thnaks so much for your lovely comments and I hope you enjoy the next stage of my cruise.